Gate for trap nests



May 10, 1932. A. ABBINK GATE FOR TRAP NESTS Filed April 25, 1931 I I I I I l I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I Patented May 1G, 1932 UNITED isTAT-Es PATENT oFFlcEF- ALBERT ABBINK, 01:7' FIRTH, NEBR-ASKA, ASSIG'NOR OF ONE-FOURTH T RICHARD ABBINK, ONE-EIGHTH T0 JACOB C. RUIGHgpANI) ONE-EIGHTH TO JOHN IJOESCI'IO'J,v

ALL OF FIRTH, NEBEASKA GATE FOR CJRABv NESTS Application fiied April 25,

This invention relates to improvements in trap nests and pertains particularly to an im proved gate structure.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel swinging gate for a henls nest, which will be automatically closed by the hen when entering the nest so that the entry of other' hens will be prevented and the hen upon the nest cannot be disturbed. The hen upon leaving the nest also forces the gate to an' opened position which it maintains until another hen,s entrance.

Another object of the invention` is to pro-V vide a novel type' of nest gate which Vis of strong and durable construction but simple in design and therefore unlikely to get out of order. a I

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed de- In the drawings nest structure cquipped with the gate embodving the present invention;

Figure 2 is a Vertical sectional view` through the central part of the nest `and transversely of the gate showing the latter opened;

Figure 3 is a Vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 o'f Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral l indicates generally a nest box in one wall of which an entrance opening 2 is formed. The top edge of the entrance opening has a recess 3 formed therein, above which, upon..the outer face of the box wall, the present gate structure is attached.

The gate structure embodying the present Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a 1981. serial No. 582,958.

invention comprises a plate or door which I is secured at its'top vedge to one leafof a hinge member 5, the other leaf being secured in vertical position to the face of the wall in which the opening 2 is formed, Vabove the top edge of the opening and across the recess` 3.

Thefixed leaf of the hing'e 5, which is indicated bv the numeralV 6, has ancopening 7 formed therethrough and above this opening there is secured to the frontV of the leaf, one leaf of a. smaller hinge 8. Theother leaf of the hinge 8 swings freelv in the opening'? and there is attached to the inner face thereof one end of anv arm 9 which normally extends'into thev nest Chamber. This arm'constitutes a tria'ger bv which the door 4 is 'released to top thereof. Thetrigger 9 acts as a balance to cause the free leaf of the hinge 8 to swing forwardly when the door 4 is oscillated outwardlv so that there is co-ordinated moveinent between the finger and the trigger;

From the forefroing description it will be readily seen that when the trap nest door is in the opened position shown `in Figure 2, the

trigger 9 projects downwardly partlyacross the entrance openingsothat a. hen entering 'the nest will strike this trigger and lift it out of engagement withthe end ofthe lfinger 5. This will permit' the door to gravitate to closed position.

When the hen wishes to leave the nest she 'will force the door 4 outwardly and thus swingthe finger 10 inwardly to the position wherevthe free end thereof will hook behind the'swinging leaf of the hins'e 8, in the manner previously described. The door or gate will thus be `held in opened positionfuntil another hen enters the nest o f The lower edge of the door or'gate is pro- Ice vided with an opening ll through which the hen may extend her head when attempting to leave the nest and thus enable her to lift the door on her back rather than by her head.

Having'thusV described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a nest structure of the character described having an. entrance opening through one wall, a gate for said entrance. opening, Fringe' meansbetfween the t'o'p edge of said' gate' and the top of said opening, an elongated trigger arm having pivotal connection at one end With the topV edge of said opening and normally extending into thefnest, a shoulder forming a part of said trigger structure, and a curved finger member having' onev endi sectn'ed to the inner face of the'g'ate adjacent' the top` edge' a-n'd having' the other' end directed across the top edge of' the gate and' dispo'sed iii the Vertical planfe' as' the trigger' to engage s'aidsho'ulde'r' by its free end when the gate is s'wung to opened position.

2. In a' nest structure oftheV Character de'- sc'ribedhaving an entrance' openinglzthrough one wall, a gate for'said entrance opening, hinge' means between the' top edge of said gatean'd the top ofsaid. opening, an elongated trigger arm having p'votal connection atv one' end with the top edge of said opening and normally extending into the nest, a shoulder forming a part of saidtrigger strncture, and a curved finger member having one end secured to the inner face of the' gate zadjacent the top'edge and havingthe other end directed across the topV edge of thev gate and disposed in the same vertical plane as thevtrigger to engage' said shouldei` by its free end when the gate is swung to opened position, said finger being f-ormed and ar'- ranged to support the trigger membei`l in horizontal position in the nest, when the gate is in closed position,

8. In a nest of the charaeter deseribed having a wall with an entrance opening therethrough, a gate for said opening, `a hing'e member having one leaf secured vto said gate' at` the top 'edge thereof and having its other leafsecured to the face of the wall through which the entrance opening is formedl and at the top of the opening, said wall attached leaf having an opening formed therethrough, a second hinge 'having one leaf secured to the wall attached leaf and having its other leaf swinging freely inthel'eaf opening, a triggerarm secured at one end to said freely swinging leaf and normally extending into vthe nest, and a fi'nger member ecured at vone end to the npper part of the gate and curved intermediate its end to have its other end directed across the top of the gate, the said other end of the -finger'zbeing designed for vengagemen't against an edge of the freely swingin'g' hinge leaf to 'maintain the gate open and said trigger in apositi'on to be engaged by ahen ent'ering 'the nest.

4. In a nest of the class described, having an entrance opening, a hanging gate hingedly mounted to cover the opening and means coacting with the gate to maintain the same open and at the same time arranged for contact. With a bird entering the nest to close the gate, and to latch and retain the gate in open position when pushed to such position by the bird' leaving the nest.

5'; `In a nest of the classtdescribed having an entrance opening, a gate suspended to close said opening and having a hinge mounted adjacent the top of the opening, a trigger, element hinged adjacent the top of said opening, said gate swinging inwardly upon' cl'osing and said trigger element swingin downwardly toward the opening upon the opening of the gate, and. means coupling the upper portion of the gatex with the trigger element when the gate is open Whereby the trigger element is held in` operative position by the weight of the gate. v

6. In a nest of the class described having an entrance opening, a hanging gate hingedly mounted to swing to a position to close said opening, an elongated trigger element pivotal'ly mounted adjacent the top of the gate, a hook element carried by. the gate, and' means for co'upling the hook elementv with the trigger element to maintain the gate in' ate to maintain the trigger and gate in such positions, when the gate is pushed outwardly from closed position Vby a bird leaving the nest.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 'zi-1;

signature.

ALBERT ABBINK. 

